As many of you read this post by the one and only Sandra, I will either be: in the process of waiting to be wheeled into surgery; being wheeled into surgery; under the knife; in recovery room; back in the post-op room; on the way home; or home already! I prefer the last option, but since I know I’ll be fine, I’ll take it all as it comes. . .

One of my newer blog-friends is a great fantasy fiction writer – Sandra Bell Kirchman. Please drop by her site frequently and be treated to some great writing, and a wonderful person all around. She so graciously agreed to step in for me today and post for me – and such a wonderful post it is! I know you will be as fascinated as I was when I read it. So, delaying no longer, I give you:

The Celestial Wonders of Creation

STONEHENGE AND PLANETS: One of my passions is the stunning displays of beauty and energy in Creation. Let’s take a little trip, stopping first at Stonehenge, a 4,000-year-old manmade monument to the Sun, reputedly dedicated by the Ancients to the measuring of the Sun and the seasons of the year.

Bright Jupiter stands highest above the horizon at the upper left. A remarkable, almost

equilateral triangle formed by Saturn (left), Mars (top), and Venus (right) is placed just above the stones near picture center. Fighting the glow of the setting sun, Mercury can be spotted closest to the horizon, below and right of the planetary triad.

THE MOONS OF EARTH: Moving upwards and out from Stonehenge, we get a surface view of our beautiful planet. Seen above Earth moving in their trajectories around the planet, we first note the Russian Mir Space Station. To the far right of Mir, we see Earth’s own natural moon.

CONE NEBULA – CLOSE-UP: This galactic formation never ceases to amaze me with its beauty and almost recognizable similarity to the head of Jesus. Whenever I see it, I have a deep feeling of joy and like everything is okay in the universe.

Cone Nebula, within the bright galactic star-forming region NGC 2264, was captured in a close-up from the Hubble Space Telescope’s newest camera. While the Cone Nebula, about 2,500 light-years away in Monoceros (the Unicorn Constellation), is around 7 light-years long, the region pictured here surrounding the cone’s blunted head is a mere 2.5 light-years across. In our neck of the galaxy that distance is just over half way from the Sun to its nearest stellar neighbor, Alpha Centauri. The massive star NGC 2264 IRS, seen by Hubble’s infrared camera in 1997, is the likely source of the wind sculpting the Cone Nebula and lies off the top of the image. The Cone Nebula’s reddish veil is produced by glowing hydrogen gas.

ANDROMEDA ISLAND UNIVERSE (M31): Last but not least is the brilliant Andromeda Island Universe. Believe it or not, despite the fact that it is 2.5 million light-years away, it is still visible to the naked eye. This is in part to its proximity to Earth and in part to the immense size of this spiral galaxy–spanning

seriously debated the fundamental concept that there are many distant galaxies like M31. Were these “spiral nebulae” simply outlying components of our own Milky Way Galaxy or were they instead “island universes” — distant systems of stars comparable to the Milky Way itself? This question was central to the famous Shapley-Curtisdebate of 1920, which was later resolved by observations of M31 in favor of Andromeda, island universe.

I hope you all have enjoyed this mini-tour of galaxies, planets, and nebulae. It was fun showing you some of my favorite celestial formations. Do you have any of these that are your favorites? We’d love to see them.

And Paula, hope you came through with flying colors, like the trooper that you are. I expect to hear that you are scampering around with energy and glee next week.

(* – Being the first to answer my plea for help, Sandra has been newly dubbed one of my “Forever-Blog-Friends!” There are a few perks that come with this designation – number one is that I must accept all requests from the designee for the rest of our blogging life! Whooppee!)

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About Paula Tohline Calhoun

I love life, and treasure it each day, because I have come so very close to losing it, more times than I can count! That's not to say that I don't get grumpy, so I've chosen this photo of me with "Andi" nibbling on my ear. Andi belongs to our son Josh, the eldest of our three sons - the others being Matt and Adam.
I strive to improve in all aspects of my life. Some days I'm more successful than others, in much the same way as my blog says, "some days are cloudier than others." I live and love by the Grace of God. My wish, my prayer for everyone is enough. . .

I’m glad you enjoyed it. One of my biggest heroes is Carl Sagan for all his work in getting people to admire and cherish our universe. I also have lots of kudos for Stephen Hawkings. More people who help us see and appreciate the beauty of, not only our world, but our universe plus, are needed.

You did a wonderful job on this post Sandra. I love shots of the galaxies and spend a lot of time on the NASA site. TY! 🙂
Pauline, sending you love, light and healing energy and best wishes for a speedy recovery! 😉
Eliz

Heh, thanks, huffygirl. The update from her husband says that the surgery was a success, and that Paula is home now on strong pain meds. I just got to do the one day for this blog, though. As soon as Paula sent the call out for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I barely got in ahead of the other two good friends who volunteered, so I got Friday.

Tomorrow’s post will be by the incomparable nrhatch (Nancy). Her very successful site has been an inspiration to many of us for quite a few months. Sunday will be covered by kateshrewsday, another excellent blogger. So stay tuned for the weekend for more reading fun and excellence.

It was my pleasure, Ashley. At first, I was frozen with indecision, wanting to write something that would honor Paula’s blog and keep within the bounds of something that she herself might write. This idea came to me out of the blue (yeah, we both know that’s not where it came from :P), and I was happy.

Thanks, Suzi, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. They all come from one of my all-time favorite sites: NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) Archive. There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of beautiful celestial pictures there. I just showed four of my favorites.

Orion has always followed me in my travels and it is a comfort to look to the night sky and know he is there.

Beautiful picture and post. I’ve been lucky enough to be in places near the equator far from smog and human disturbance. Our galaxy appears to the naked eye as the Milky Way. When I first saw it I kept think why are those clouds so thick and only in a strip across the sky. Once I realized what it was it was truly amazing. Like the diamond studded belt of the universe.

Join me here!

These were interesting. . .

Living at the Draftville Hotel!

Every poem or story or essay I post here is a draft, and usually a very early draft. I'm still learning how to look at my writing objectively, and when it comes to fixing what's broken or just non-functioning, ...whew. I don't ask for formal critique--that's a lot of work. But if you notice anything you think might help a poem (including, but not limited to spelling and punctuation!), please don't hesitate to mention it. In the comments, that's fine, or drop me a note: ptohlinecalhoun@gmail.com.

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Past Reflections

Past Reflections

A Favorite Quotation & My Response

"Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God."

~~I Peter 1:18-21, The Message

"The greatest and most difficult lesson, at times,, is learning to trust God."

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You asked for it!

I love life, and treasure it each day, because I have come so very close to losing it, more times than I can count! That's not to say that I don't get grumpy, so I've chosen this photo of me with "Andi" nibbling on my ear. Andi belongs to our son Josh, the eldest of our three sons - the others being Matt and Adam.
I strive to improve in all aspects of my life. Some days I'm more successful than others, in much the same way as my blog says, "some days are cloudier than others." I live and love by the Grace of God. My wish, my prayer for everyone is enough. . .